Electric-arc lamp



(No Model.)

T. L. WILLSON.

E-LEGTRIG ARC LAMP.

No. 332,173. Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

THOMAS L. WILLSON, OF ILION, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO J AMES BRADY, OF BROOKLYN, NEYV YORK.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAM P.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,173, dated December 8, 1885.

Application filed March 13, 1835. Serial No. 158,766. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. WILLsoN, residing in Ilion, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric- Arc Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is more especially designed and is most advantageous for small or short arclamps, but is also applicable with great advantage to large or long are lamps; and the object of my invention is to provide a very simple and efficient regulating mechanism which shall dispense with all clock-work or other intermediate mechanism between the carbon-holder and the regulating-magnets and effect a direct action between the magnets and the carbon-holder to produce all the regulating-motions of the carbon.

My regulating mechanism belongs to that type in which the carbon-holder is first clutched and then lifted to produce the separating movement, and is lowered and then unclutched to produce the feed, and in which two electromagnets are usedone placed in the direct circuit and the other in a shunt. In my invention, however, one magnet acts as the armature to the other, and they are arranged to clutch the carbon-holder directly between them at one set of poles, while the magnets are hung at the other set of poles by togglelinks in the lamp-frame, so that in the action of the magnets the lower poles are first attracted together and clutch the carbon-holder between them, and the upper polesbeing then attracted they act, through the intervention of the toggle-links, to lift the magnets bodily a short distance, and thus raise the clutched carbon-holder, and thereby produce the $6133.. ration to form the arc. The reverse action for feed is accomplished, chiefly, by repulsion between the magnets, due to an opposite polarity of greater power produced in the armature or shunt magnet by the increase of the shuntcurrent. In some cases the armature-magnet may be a plain unwound or passive armature, and the primary magnet may be doubly wound with both the direct and the shunt coils, instead of having each separately wound, as described.

My invention therefore consists in the features above outlined, whereby a very simple and efficient lamp is produced, as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawings annexed, Figure 1 represents an elevation of my improved lamp in its es sential portions. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan at the lower or clutching poles of the magnets, and Fig. 3 is a plan of the upper or lifting poles. Fig. 4 is an elevation showing a modification of magnets in which the armature magnet is unwound; and Fig. 5 is a similar view of another modification where the armature magnet is unwound and, the primary magnet is wound both with direct and shunt coils. Fig. 6 illustrates a third modification.

Referring first to Fig. 1, g gindicate the two metal plates or heads, and h h rods or stand ards which join the same and form the frame of the lamp, as usual.

0 indicates the metal rod sliding centrally through the heads and forming the carbonholder, being provided at its lower end with aclamp to hold the upper or positive carbon, 2', in the usual manner.

It indicates the lower or negative carbonholder, which is presumed to be fixed in a stationary clamp in the harp suspended from the lower head, but which is not shown in the drawings, as the same is of well-known construction.

Now, A indicates the primary magnet, and B the secondary or armature magnet, which are preferably alike in size and form, and consist of an iron core having similar pole-pieces, a a b b, on their opposite ends, as shown fully in Figs. 1 and 2, and also washers or spool'heads Z Z, between which their energizing-coils are wound, as shown. Both magnets are wound in the same direction; but the primary magnet A is wound with coarse wire, which is situated in the direct or arc circuit, while the secondary magnet B is wound with fine wire of high resistance, which is situated in a shunt around the are or between the terminals of the lamp. The magnets are hung by the toggle-links d d from the upper headplate 9, the links being preferably pivoted to the upper pole-pieces, b, in line with the cores,

while the pole-pieces are connected by re-ioo tracting-springs e e to adjustingscrews m m, provided with adj usting-nuts n a, mounted in a yoke, 0, above the plate 9. This pivotal and spring connection of the magnets is therefore such that the magnets hang pendulous and' normally incline toward each other at the lower ends,where the pole-pieces a a tend to approach and closely embrace the carbonholder 0. The approaching faces of the lower poles, at a, are recessed or notched at the middle with semicircular notches to embrace the carbon-holder, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and these notches are flared both above and below, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to present a rounded central edge to contact with the carbon-holder and allow the pole-pieces a certain amount of rocking motion in their contact with the carbon-holder, as will be understood from Fig. 1. The upper pole-pieces, b b, are also recessed with semicircular notches, as seen in Fig. 3; but these notches are much larger than those in the lower poles, so as to widely encircle but never contact withthe carbon-holder; and these upper pole-pieces are prevented from coming into contact with each other or with the carbon-holder'by little brass pins 10 or other stops driven into the faces of the poles, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Now, referring to Fig. 1, the parts normally assume the position shown, the magnets inclining toward each other and being limited in the inclination by stop-toes d on the links d,which abut against-the washers Land which inclination may be regulated, if desired, by set-screws in the toes d, as indicated by dotted lines. Normally, however, the poles a a will closely approach the carbon-holder c and embrace the same lightly on each side, and the degree of pressure or relaxation of the poles on the carbon-holder may be regulated by regulating the tension of the springs e e, which are, in effect, the retracting-springs of the magnets; hence the carbon-holder 0 will be normally free to move between the clutch-poles a a,and will therefore gravil ate freely into contact with the lower carbon, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1. If, now, the lamp is put in circuit, the current will flow from the positive binding post 1 to the coils of the, primary magnet A, and from thence to the upper carbon, to the lower carbon, and return by the conductor 8 to the negative binding-post r, and thence off in the main circuit. The magnet A will therefore be strongly energized and will attract the magnet B, in which no appreciable current will now be flowing, by reason of the high resistance of its coils compared with the contacting carbons; and hence the magnet B acts as a passive armature to the magnet A. The result, therefore, will be that the poles a a will be strongly attracted toward each other, and the carbon-holder a will be thus firmly clutched between them in a magnetic frictional grasp, and as the poles at a can approach no farther after grasping the carbonholder the separated poles b b will continue to attract and approach each other, and in coming together will therefore cause the magnets to assume a straight position and the togglelinks (1 d to swing inward,as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, which, like 'the'bending of a toggle-joint, will have the effect of lifting the magnets bodily a short distance, and thus raising the clutched carbon-holder with them, and therefore separating the carbons and forming the arc, and thereafter holding the carbon and magnets suspended. in'the described position. 1t will be noted that in this lifting movement the amount of lift will be very slight, but amply sufficient to form the full length of arc in short-arc lamps,and hence the power and leverage of the magnets with this short movement will enable them to act with great certainty and positiveuess on the carbon-holder and control the movements there.

of perfectly.

When the arc becomes abnormallyv long by consumption of the carbon, a greater proportion of current will then flow in the shunt coils, and the magnet B will thereforebecome strongly magnetized'with a polarity similar to that of magnet A, and the upper poles will therefore first become neutral and then repulsive, and thus spread apartand allow the magnets and the clutched rod to descend clutched and raised, as before described: Hence by these opposite actions the arc will be regulated in a perfect manner, and it may now be seen that the mechanism for accomplishing this is peculiarly simple and direct in its action, and dispenses with all clock work, levers, clutches, or connections between the magnets and carbon-holder,'andsecures a direct connection between the said parts. It. will also be seen that the mechanism is such that no dash-pots or other retarding devices are necessary to prevent sudden or jerky motions, which are not likely to occur in this mechanism.

It will be readily perceived that the princi ple of my invention is not confined to the construction shown in Fig. 1,as it may be variously modified, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Thus,

as shown in Fig. 4, the secondary magnet B may be left naked, and thus serve simply as a passive armature to the magnet A,which latter may be wound with a coilin the direct circuit,

in the same manner as Fig. 1. The action in clutching and lifting would be the same as described in reference to Fig. 1, only thatthe magnet, or, rather, armature, B, would act simply. by strengthening and weakening in atj traction, and not by repulsion,- as 'in Fig. 1." This modification would, however, be appli- IOO IIO

cable only where a single lamp was supplied bya single machine, and would not be adapted for serial lighting.

For serial lighting the modification shown in Fig. 5 might be used. In this case the armature-magnet B is left unwound, as before, but the main magnet A is wound both with the shunt and direct coils in reverse directions; hence in producing the separating movement the direct coil would become strongly energized and act to cause the magnets to attract each other, as before described, whereas when the feed motion is produced the greater portion of the current would pass through the shunt-coil and neutralize the magnetism caused by the direct coil, and thus cause the magnets to separate and release the carbon-holder, with the same effect as described in reference to Fig. 1. Again, for single lamps in single circuits the construction may be modified still further, as seen in Fig. 6, where only the main magnet A is retained wound with the direct coil, the carbon-holder 0 being iron, to serve as an armature thereto. In this case, therefore, when the magnet A is energized, the lower pole will be attracted to the carbon-holder, which it will thereby clutch, and the upper pole being afterward attracted thereto it will lift the clutched carbon-holder. When the current weakens, the reverse action will take place and allow the carbon to feed, as will be readily comprehended.

I do not limit myself to the use of the togglelinks as a mechanical means whereby the attraction of the upper poles of the magnets for each other is made to lift the magnets and the clutched carbon-holder, as any other means for accomplishing this end may be employed without departing from the essence of my invention. Neither do I limit myself to having the two magnets act directly on the carbonholder to clutch and lift the same without any intermediate devices; but the direct action shown is obviously preferable.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is with the carbon-holder, of an electro-magnet having its poles directed toward the holder, one of said poles being formed to constitute a portion of a clutch, while the other pole is formed so as to closely approach the carbonholdcr, substantially as herein set forth.

2. In an electric'arc lamp, the combination, with the carbon-holder, of two magnets, one arranged on each side of the carbon-holder, and having their poles directed toward said holder, one set of poles in each magnet being formed to constitute a clutch, while the other set of poles is formed so as to closely approach each other, substantially as herein set forth.

3. The combination, in an electric-arc lamp, with the carbon-holder, of two magnets arranged with poles facing each other, one of said magnets being wound with a coil in the arc-circuit and the other with a coil in a 1. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination,

shunt around the arc, and so arranged that the attraction of one set of poles clutches the carbon-holder while the attraction of the opposite poles lifts the clutched holder, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in an electric-arc lamp, with the carbon -holder, of a directwound magnet, A, arranged on one side of the carbon-holder, and a shunt-wound magnet, 13, arranged on the opposite side, with their poles a a b b directed toward each other and toward the carbon-holder, and so arranged that the attraction of the lower poles directly clutches the carbon-holder between them,while the attraction of the upper poles lifts the clutched holder, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. In an electric lamp, the combination, with a carbon-holder, of an electro-magnet hung pendulous by a toggle-link adjoining the carbon-holder, with its poles directed thereto, and so arranged that the attraction of its lower pole toward the carbon-holder clutches the same, while the attraction of its upper pole lifts the same, and vice versa, substantially as shown and described.

6. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination, with the carbon-holder, of a primary magnet and an armature-magnet, each of substantially horseshoe form, and suspended pendulous, in the manner of toggles, with their poles facing each other, the lower poles approaching closely while the upper poles are separated, and so arranged that on the energization of the magnets the lower poles are first attracted together and act to clutch the holder, following which the upper poles approach, and with a toggle action lift the magnets and holder, and vice versa, substantially as herein set forth.

7. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination, with the carbon-holder c, of the magnets AB, with notched clutching-poles a a and liftingpoles b b, and with the suspending toggle-links d d, arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination, with the carbon-holder c, of a pendulous magnet, A, with poles directed toward the carbonholder, with the retractile spring 0 and togglelink d, clutching-pole a, and lifting-pole 12, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination, with the central carbon-holder, of the main magnet A and armaturemagnet B, with recessed clutching-poles a a, embracing the carbon-holder, and lifting-poles b b, facing each other, but free from the holder, and with the toggle-links d d, suspending said magnets, arranged and operating substantially as shown and described.

THOMAS L. WVILLSON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE O. RASBAOH, THOS. RICHARDSON. 

